Fishermen observe bandh for ban on high-speed boats

Visakhapatnam: The fishermen and members of Mechanised Boat Operators Association observed bandh in Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on Monday demanding that the government impose ban on the China-made high-speed engines as they affect their earnings.

Along with the mechanised boats, the country boat fishermen also stopped the fishing and staged dharna in front of the Fisheries Department office.

Addressing the gathering at the dharna, leaders of various associations and fishermen, who are venturing into the sea with country boats, alleged that the high-speed 840 cc engine boats are getting more catch in less time by travelling fast.

As there is no enforcement in fixing the high-speed engines to fishing boats, the mechanised boat operators are importing China-made high horsepower engines and fixing the same to boats and venturing into the sea.

The mechanised boat operators who are using Indian made 160 CC engines are losing the revenues as the China made engine boats catching huge quantum of fish. Meanwhile, the fish wealth was badly affected with the high-speed engines.

During the venturing, the China made engine boats were catching small fish, which is not suitable for eating. However, the operators are not grading the fish brought to the shore on the boat, Greater Visakha Fishing Harbour Fishermen Welfare Federation D Dhana Raju alleged.

The fishermen demanded the government to intervene into the issue immediately and ban the high-speed engine boats which have been damaging the marine wealth, they demanded. With the high-speed engines, the other boat operators and fishermen are not getting good catch and returning with empty hands during the voyage, the leaders expressed their anger.

The high-speed boat gets two-times more catch within two to three days than what a normal boat collects in two weeks, the fishermen said. The alleged that over 150 boats with 840 CC engines have been operating in Andhra Pradesh illegally. The Fisheries Department should take immediate action on the high-speed engines, they demanded.